Naughty?
I was 'surfing' the speed-cameras coming out of London towards the M40 late one evening. A car was driving right up my arse and when I made a particularly sharp brake, wiped out to avoid going into the back of me. And I mean REALLY wiped out. It hit the central reservation in a cloud of dust and parts then skidded back over the hard shoulder where it gradually came to a halt.

I just kept going because I had bad things in the car of which plod might have disapproved, and because I just sort of panicked. Legal eagles out there, did I have a duty to stop? Even as I sped off I could see other cars slowing to help, so the unfortunate occupants weren't completely left to their own devices...
(Happybara The jungle came alive and took him, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 12:21, 5 replies)

Hmmm
I'd let you off completely.

If a copper saw it, they would probably have done you for dangerous driving. Even if a pillock is right up behind you, braking sharply for no reason was what caused the accident.

However, I do this all the time, or at least tap the brakes. I think your concience should be clear.

(Bravo in fact!)
(Kliper Filllets Getting noticed by twats on the internet since, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 12:52, closed)

I applaud you
I got followed by the scum cause I let off the gas when I had someone up my ass. Apparently slowing to less than 30 in a 55 is worse than someone trying to lick your bumper from behind the wheel.
(CactusZack Shaved his coin purse on, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:33, closed)

Thanks guys,

(Happybara The jungle came alive and took him, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 17:17, closed)

Thanks guys.
The memory is still a vivid one. Hope they didn't die - just got some nasty bruises. Before I had a kid and held my own life in limited esteem, I used to tap the brake lights and make a (polite) back-off signal in the rearview to cars tailgating me. If that failed to work,
I'd just slam on the brakes, usually with better results.

I mean, fairplay if some berk is blocking the overtaking lane at some absurdly low speed and is ignoring all behind him. You can close the stopping distance a bit to let them know that you mean business and that they're not the only motorist on the road. But it really gets my goat when you're in a queue of cars moving along a busy road and some complete anus hovers three feet behind you as if you're somehow to blame or as if overtaking you is going to make one iota of difference to their time of arrival.
(Happybara The jungle came alive and took him, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 17:27, closed)

Hitting the brakes really hard is stupid. Someone could have been killed or seriously injured. And you drove off leaving unknown carnage, and some degree of responsibility, behind you? Can't condone that sort of thing I'm afraid.

Just pull over and let them through.
( enoughblueskyforsailorstrousers, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 20:03, closed)